Mobile Generator Charging System and Method

ABSTRACT

A system includes a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first charger connected to another device external from the system having at least one battery, a second charger connected to an on board battery pack, and at least one programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to: manage communication between the VAWT, the at least one battery, and the first charger to ensure that the at least one battery reaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge, and manage communication between the on board battery pack and the second charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC and trigger the second charger to discontinue the charging session, manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at least one battery.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 18/116,897 filed Mar. 3, 2023, entitled “Mobile GeneratorCharging System and Method,” which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/950,701 filed Sep. 22, 2022, entitled “MobileGenerator Charging System and Method,” which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/247,586, filed Sep.23, 2021, entitled “Mobile Generator Charging System and Method,” all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Currently, in many situations and locations, it is difficult to chargean electric powered vehicle, device, or system because of a lack ofpower sources. The vehicle, device, or system may have to find or locatea power source but oftentimes this is not feasible for a number ofreasons. As an example, the vehicle may be currently located in a remotelocation where there are no options. As another example, after a naturaldisaster such as a hurricane or tornado, there may be a long-term poweroutage and no available power source. It would be optimal to have apower source that is transportable and capable of traveling to aparticular location or device.

It is with these issues in mind, among others, that various aspects ofthe disclosure were conceived.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a mobile generator charging system and methodis provided that is transportable and capable of traveling from onelocation to a second location associated with a vehicle, aircraft,watercraft, building, or other object to be powered. The system may havea first charger that may be connected to an aircraft, vehicle,watercraft, building, or other object having at least one battery and asecond charger connected to an on board battery pack as well as one ormore PLCs that manage communication between the aircraft, vehicle,watercraft, building, or other object and the on board battery pack toensure that the at least one battery reaches a preset state of charge(SOC) and the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC. In oneexample, the mobile generator charging system may be located on orwithin a trailer such as a forty-eight foot trailer that may betransported via road, rail, boat, or air.

In one example, a system may include a first charger connected to one ofan aircraft, a watercraft, and a vehicle having at least one vehiclebattery, a second charger connected to an on board battery pack, and atleast one programmable logic controller (PLC) to manage communicationbetween the at least one vehicle battery and the first charger to ensurethat the at least one vehicle battery reaches a preset state of charge(SOC), manage communication between the on board battery pack and thesecond charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches thepreset SOC, and manage transfer of energy from the on board battery packto the at least one vehicle battery.

In another example, a method may include managing, by at least oneprogrammable logic controller (PLC), communication between one of avehicle, a watercraft, and an aircraft, a first charger, and a secondcharger, managing, by the at least one PLC, at least one power source toprovide energy to the first charger and the second charger, ensuring, bythe at least one PLC, that the first charger provides the at least onebattery associated with the vehicle, the watercraft, or the aircraftwith a preset state of charge (SOC), ensuring, by the at least one PLC,that the second charger provides the on board battery pack with thepreset SOC, and initiating a connection, by the at least one PLC toallow transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at leastone battery associated with the vehicle, the watercraft, or aircraft.

In another example, a system includes a vertical axis wind turbine(VAWT), a first charger connected to another device external from thesystem having at least one battery, a second charger connected to an onboard battery pack, and at least one programmable logic controller (PLC)configured to: manage communication between the VAWT, the at least onebattery, and the first charger to ensure that the at least one batteryreaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge,manage communication between the on board battery pack and the secondcharger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOCand trigger the second charger to discontinue the charging session,manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at leastone battery, and stop a flow of electricity to the first charger and thesecond charger, cease output of power when output is below 75% ofgenerator output, and shut down the system.

In another example, a method includes managing, by at least oneprogrammable logic controller (PLC), communication between an externaldevice, a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first charger, and asecond charger, the external device external from the first charger andthe second charger, managing, by the at least one PLC, at least onepower source comprising the VAWT to provide energy to the first chargerand the second charger, ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that thefirst charger provides the at least one battery associated with theexternal device with a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% stateof charge, ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the second chargerprovides the on board battery pack with the preset SOC, and triggeringthe second charger to discontinue the charging session, initiating aconnection, by the at least one PLC, to allow transfer of energy fromthe on board battery pack to the at least one battery associated withthe external device, and stopping a flow of electricity to the firstcharger and the second charger, ceasing output of power when output isbelow 75% of generator output, and shutting down the system.

In another example, a portable system includes a container to house thesystem including a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first chargerconnected to another device external from the system having at least onebattery, a second charger connected to an on board battery pack, and atleast one programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to: managecommunication between the VAWT, the at least one battery, and the firstcharger to ensure that the at least one battery reaches a preset stateof charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge, manage communicationbetween the on board battery pack and the second charger to ensure thatthe on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC and trigger the secondcharger to discontinue the charging session, manage transfer of energyfrom the on board battery pack to the at least one battery, and stop aflow of electricity to the first charger and the second charger, ceaseoutput of power when output is below 75% of generator output, and shutdown the system.

These and other aspects, features, and benefits of the presentdisclosure will become apparent from the following detailed writtendescription of the preferred embodiments and aspects taken inconjunction with the following drawings, although variations andmodifications thereto may be effected without departing from the spiritand scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments and/or aspects of thedisclosure and, together with the written description, serve to explainthe principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeelements of an embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile generator charging systemaccording to an example of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for allowing transfer of energy by themobile generator charging system according to an example of the instantdisclosure.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic drawings of the mobile generator chargingsystem according to an example of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical axis wind motor or turbine (VAWT) associatedwith the mobile generator charging system according to an example of theinstant disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a system for implementing certain aspects ofthe present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of a system and method for mobile generator charging includesmanaging, by at least one programmable logic controller (PLC),communication between a vehicle, a watercraft, or an aircraft, a firstcharger, and a second charger, managing, by the at least one PLC, atleast one power source to provide energy to the first charger and thesecond charger, ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the firstcharger provides the at least one battery associated with the vehicle,the watercraft, or the aircraft with a preset state of charge (SOC),ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the second charger provides theon board battery pack with the preset SOC, and initiating a connection,by the at least one PLC to allow transfer of energy from the on boardbattery pack to the at least one battery associated with the vehicle,the watercraft, or aircraft.

In one example, the system may include at least one vertical axis windturbine (VAWT), a first charger connected to another device externalfrom the system having at least one battery, a second charger connectedto an on board battery pack, and at least one programmable logiccontroller (PLC) configured to: manage communication between the VAWT,the at least one battery, and the first charger to ensure that the atleast one battery reaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90%state of charge, manage communication between the on board battery packand the second charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reachesthe preset SOC and trigger the second charger to discontinue thecharging session, manage transfer of energy from the on board batterypack to the at least one battery, and stop a flow of electricity to thefirst charger and the second charger, cease output of power when outputis below 75% of generator output, and shut down the system.

As an example, the VAWT may have at least six blade heads. Each end ofeach blade head can have end plates that are perpendicular to an axis ofthe blade head. Even further, a tangential tail plane can be attached toan edge of each blade head closer to a rotor axis. Additionally, eachtail plane may be connected to a blade tip using stiffeners. As anexample, the VAWT may have a generator having a plurality of pairs ofmagnets, each pair of magnets having a non-ferrous coil placed between.In one example, the ratio of number of pairs of magnets to a number ofcoils is 4:3. As another example, a diameter of a coil is at least twicea diameter of a magnet.

The mobile generator charging system may be contained or stored in atrailer such as a forty-eight foot trailer to be transported to aparticular location such as a particular location associated with thevehicle (e.g., a parking location), watercraft (e.g., a dock), oraircraft (e.g., an airport or heliport). The system may include a numberof programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that may manage one or morecomponents and share data associated with each component with a main PLCand transmit the data to a remote location and/or at least one remotecomputing device.

As an example, a generator PLC may manage engine performance andgenerator output to ensure a smooth and consistent voltage output to bedelivered to an A/C distribution panel. The A/C distribution panel mayhave thermal and remote switch actuators such that the generator PLC mayhave control of A/C power switching in the A/C distribution panel. AnA/C output connector may allow connection of the system to anotherelectrical panel to be powered by the system such as a building, liftstation, compressed natural gas (CNG) station, power an electricalutility as a microgrid generator, or others. A charger PLC may managecommunication between a vehicle and a charger.

A vehicle battery management system (BMS) may report battery state ofcharge (SOC) temperature, rate of change in temperature, and other datato the charger PLC. The charger PLC may adjust the power level beingdelivered to the vehicle battery using the data from the BMS. The changein power level may be reported to the main PLC that may communicate thechange to a PLC located in a second charger to begin charging an onboard battery pack to absorb energy not being used by a first charger.The on board battery pack may be sized as a minimum to have a samecapacity as one or more vehicle batteries to deliver energy and chargethe one or more vehicle batteries. The system may include a coolingsystem for the on board battery pack. The process may continue until avehicle battery attains a preset SOC. At this time, the first chargermay discontinue a charge session and generator output may be provided tothe second charger and the on board battery pack. When the secondcharger slows to where it is drawing less than a preset amount ofgenerator output, the main PLC may trigger the second charger todiscontinue the charging session. This may open a circuit in thedistribution panel to stop a flow of electricity to the first chargerand the second charger, the generator may cease to output power, and mayshut down.

At a beginning of a next charge session, when the first charger isplugged into a vehicle, the one or more PLCs may initiate a connectionbetween the vehicle battery and the on board battery pack. Theconnection may allow transfer of energy from the on board battery packto the vehicle that may be monitored by the charger PLC and the mainPLC. When the transfer of energy slows indicating the batteries areclose to a same SOC, the main PLC may start the generator, close thebreaker in the distribution panel, and start the session on the firstcharger.

The fuel system on the system may be sized to accommodate at leasttwelve hours of operation. There may be a refueling system located onsite to fuel the system using compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel, aswell as renewable natural gas (RNG), ethanol, and others. In otherwords, the system may use fuels that have a zero or negative carbonindex. As a result, the system may have a carbon credit value.

The generator may be sized to operate at 75% capacity under a fullcharging load. The one or more PLCs associated with the system maymonitor an engine associated with the generator, electric output, thefirst charger and the second charger, a vehicle battery, the on boardbattery pack, and functions associated with each. The one or more PLCsmay redirect charging from the vehicle to the on board battery pack tomaintain a generator output at optimal until the vehicle is fullycharged. When the charger charging the on board battery pack reducesoutput below 75% of the generator output, the one or more PLCs may shutdown the system.

The first charger and the second charger may use power management toincrease energy flow from the on board battery pack as a vehicle stateof charge increases to maintain a consistent draw on the generator. Theone or more PLCs may monitor the state of charge, temperature, andcurrent flow to the vehicle battery and the on board battery pack aswell as the current flow to each charger. The one or more PLCs mayadjust flow of coolant to the on board battery pack and the vehiclebattery to manage heat in the vehicle battery and the on board batterypack to maximize a speed of charge. As a result, the system may providea mobile energy source with a charger that can travel to the vehicle tocharge the vehicle battery and the system may fit on or in a traileramong other containers that may be transported via a vehicle, rail,boat, or aircraft. In addition, the system may utilize a variety ofrenewable low carbon intensity fuels to generate electricity for thevehicle.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile generator charging system100 according to an example embodiment. The mobile generator chargingsystem may include a generator programmable logic controller (PLC) 102or a generator computing device, a power source, e.g., a generator 104,an A/C output connector 106, an A/C distribution panel 108, a main PLC110 or main computing device, a charger PLC 112 or a charger computingdevice, a first charger A/C-D/C rectifier/transformer 114, a secondcharger A/C-D/C rectifier/transformer 116, a battery management PLC 118or a battery management computing device, an aircraft, vehicle, orwatercraft 120, a first charger dispenser 122, a second chargerdispenser 124, and an on board battery pack 126.

A first charger 101 may include the first charger dispenser 122 and thefirst charger A/C-D/C rectifier/transformer 114 among other components.A second charger 103 may include the second charger dispenser 124 andthe second charger A/C-D/C rectifier/transformer 116 among othercomponents.

When a charger connection is made with the aircraft 120, the charger PLC112 and the battery management PLC 118 may communicate regardingtemperature and voltage state of charge. The main PLC 110 may close theconnection with the on board battery pack 126 allowing the balance ofthe vehicle battery and the on board battery pack 126. Current flow mayslow to a preset limit through the cable connecting the first charger101. The main PLC 110 may queue the generator PLC 102 to start thegenerator 104. When the generator 104 provides appropriate powerconditions (RPMs), the contactor in the generator 104 may close andenergize the A/C distribution panel 108 and the first charger 101.

Communication may continue between the BMS on the aircraft 120 and thecharger PLC 112 to control the charge. When the BMS requests thecharging rate to be reduced, the main PLC 110 may energize the secondcharger 103 at a rate to manage the load on the generator 104 tomaintain 75% of design. When the battery of the aircraft 120 reaches thepreset (90%) state of charge, the first charger 101 may discontinue andthe second charger 103 may go to 100%. When the BMS on the on boardbattery pack 126 slows the charge to below 75% of generator capacity,the main PLC 110 may shut down the generator 104. The on board batterypack 126 may act as house batteries to keep the system functional.

The at least one generator PLC 102, the charger PLC 112, the main PLC110, and the battery management PLC 118 may be configured to receivedata from and/or transmit data to one another through a communicationnetwork. Although each PLC is shown as a single computing device, it iscontemplated each PLC may include multiple computing devices or multiplePLCs.

The communication network can be the Internet, an intranet, or anotherwired or wireless communication network. For example, the communicationnetwork may include a Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a codedivision multiple access (CDMA) network, 3^(rd) Generation PartnershipProject (GPP) network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a wirelessapplication protocol (WAP) network, a WiFi network, a Bluetooth network,a satellite communications network, or an IEEE 802.11 standards network,as well as various communications thereof. Other conventional and/orlater developed wired and wireless networks may also be used.

Each PLC may include at least one processor to process data and memoryto store data. The processor processes communications, buildscommunications, retrieves data from memory, and stores data to memory.The processor and the memory are hardware. The memory may includevolatile and/or non-volatile memory, e.g., a computer-readable storagemedium such as a cache, random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), flash memory, or other memory to store data and/orcomputer-readable executable instructions. In addition, each PLC furtherincludes at least one communications interface to transmit and receivecommunications, messages, and/or signals.

Each PLC could be a programmable logic controller, a programmablecontroller, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a personal digitalassistant, a tablet computer, a standard personal computer, or anotherprocessing device. Each PLC may include a display, such as a computermonitor, for displaying data and/or graphical user interfaces. Thesystem may also include a Global Positioning System (GPS) hardwaredevice for determining a particular location, an input device, such as acamera, a keyboard or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, pen,or touch screen) to enter data into or interact with graphical and/orother types of user interfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the displayand the input device may be incorporated together as a touch screen ofthe smartphone or tablet computer.

As an example, the system 100 may include a first charger 101 connectedto one of an aircraft, a watercraft, and a vehicle 120 having at leastone vehicle battery, a second charger 103 connected to an on boardbattery pack 126 and at least one PLC to manage communication betweenthe at least one vehicle battery and the first charger 101 to ensurethat the at least one vehicle battery reaches a preset SOC with no harmto the at least one vehicle battery, manage communication between the onboard battery pack 126 and the second charger 103 to ensure that the onboard battery pack 126 reaches the preset SOC with no harm to the onboard battery pack, and manage transfer of energy from the on boardbattery pack 126 to the at least one vehicle battery.

As an example, the at least one PLC may include a main PLC 110, acharger PLC 112, a battery management PLC 118, and a generator PLC 102.The charger PLC 112 may manage the first charger 101 and the secondcharger 103, the battery management PLC 118 may manage the at least onevehicle battery and the on board battery pack 126, the generator PLC 102may manage the generator 104, and the main PLC 110 may manage thecharger PLC 112, the battery management PLC 118, and the generator PLC102.

As an example, the generator 104 can be any device that may provideenergy to the first charger 101 and the second charger 103.Additionally, the system 100 may include an output A/C connector 106 andan A/C distribution panel 108, a first charger A/C-D/C rectifiertransformer 114, and a second charger A/C-D/C rectifier transformer 116.The system 100 may include a trailer or other storage container to housethe system. The trailer may be a mobile trailer such as a forty-eightfoot trailer that may be pulled by a vehicle such as a pickup truck or atractor unit such as a semi-tractor truck. The mobile trailer may have adifferent length such as twenty-eight feet, thirty-two feet, thirty-fourfeet, forty feet, forty-five feet, forty-eight feet, and fifty-threefeet, among others. The trailer may be thirteen feet, six inches high ora different height and one-hundred and two inches wide or a differentwidth. The system may further include a fuel system having one or morefuel tanks utilizing at least one of compressed natural gas, renewablenatural gas, and ethanol, among other renewable low carbon fuels. Thesystem can provide power to an electrical panel such as one located in abuilding, a lift station, a CNG station, or a microgrid, among others.As is known, a microgrid may be a localized energy grid that may beseparate from the traditional power grid and it may operateautonomously. The microgrid may provide utility grade power.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method 200 for allowing transfer of energyfrom the on board battery pack to the at least one battery associatedwith the vehicle 120. Although the example method 200 depicts aparticular sequence of operations, the sequence may be altered withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, some ofthe operations depicted may be performed in parallel or in a differentsequence that does not materially affect the function of the method 200.In other examples, different components of an example device or systemthat implements the method 200 may perform functions at substantiallythe same time or in a specific sequence.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes managingcommunication by the at least one PLC between the vehicle 120 and afirst charger 101 and a second charger 103 at block 210. The at leastone PLC may include a main PLC 110, a charger PLC 112, a batterymanagement PLC 118, and a generator PLC 102. The charger PLC 112 canmanage the first charger 101 and the second charger 103, the batterymanagement PLC 118 manages the at least one vehicle battery and the onboard battery pack 126, the generator PLC 102 manages the generator 104,and the main PLC 110 manages the charger PLC 112, the battery managementPLC 118, and the generator PLC 102.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes managing by the atleast one PLC the at least one power source to provide energy to thefirst charger 101 and the second charger 103 at block 220.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes ensuring by the atleast one PLC that the second charger 103 provides the on board batterypack 126 with the preset state of charge at block 230.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes ensuring by the atleast one PLC that the first charger 101 provides the at least onebattery associated with the vehicle 120 with the preset state of chargeat block 240.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes initiating aconnection by the at least one PLC to allow transfer of energy from theon board battery pack 126 to the at least one battery associated withthe vehicle 120 at block 250.

According to some examples, the method 200 includes providing energy tothe first charger 101 and the second charger 103 using a power source.

According to some examples, the method 200 may include providing thetransfer of energy to another electrical panel using an output A/Cconnector 106 and an A/C distribution panel 108.

As an example, the first charger 101 can be a first charger A/C-D/Crectifier transformer 114 and the second charger 103 may be a secondcharger A/C-D/C rectifier transformer 116.

According to some examples, the method 200 may include housing the atleast one PLC, the first charger 101, and the second charger 103 in oneof a trailer and a container. The trailer can be a mobile trailer.

According to some examples, the method 200 may include utilizing a fuelsystem including at least one of compressed natural gas, renewablenatural gas, and ethanol.

According to some examples, the method 200 may include providing powerto an electrical panel.

According to some examples, the method 200 may include providing powerto one of a building and a microgrid.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic drawings of the mobile generator chargingsystem 100 according to an example of the instant disclosure. As shownin FIG. 3 , the system 100 may be housed in a trailer that may betransported by a vehicle such as a pickup truck. Alternatively, thetrailer may be transported via rail, boat, or air. The system 100 isshown as providing energy to an electric vehicle. In one example, thevehicle may be a bus. FIG. 4 shows a different schematic view of thetrailer being transported by the vehicle.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical axis wind motor or vertical axis wind turbine(VAWT) 500 associated with the mobile generator charging system 100according to an example of the instant disclosure. The system 100 mayinclude at least one VAWT 500. As shown in FIG. 5 , there is an examplevertical axis wind turbine or motor 500, which can be insensitive towind direction, eliminating the need for wind direction adjustmentsolutions that are important for horizontal axis wind turbines, and iscapable of generating power in winds as low as 1 m/s. In one example,the wind turbine may have blade heads with a hollow half cylinder andmay include a tail plate on an open side of a blade head. Additionally,there may be a tail flap with a tangential positioned relative to theblade head and on a side closer to a rotor axis and positioned without agap.

As an example, the blade shape when combined with the tail blade andblade tip, measured in a direction parallel to the tail blade can be1/12 of a circumference of a tip circle and the tail blade can be 89degrees forward a radius of the blade tip center, among others. Theblade head can be a half-cylinder with a diameter of 10-20%, such as 15%of the diameter of the circle centered on the rotor shaft at anoutermost point of the half-cylinder. The VAMT 500 may includenon-ferrous core coils placed between pairs of high energy permanentmagnets, where the maximum power is obtained when a space betweenmagnets is at least 0.4 Tesla magnetic induction and a distance betweenadjacent magnets is half a diameter or width of the magnets. A diameterof the coils can be twice that of the magnets and a ratio of a number ofpairs of magnets to a number of coils can be 4:3.

The VAWT 500 may have at least six curved blade heads. The ends of theblade heads may have end plates perpendicular to an axis of the bladeheads. The blade heads and a rotor may be connected to one another usinga support structure. A generator rotor can be connected to the rotor andgenerator windings can be connected to an inverter and/or batteries anda control unit such as one or more of the generator PLC 102, the mainPLC 110, the charger PLC 112, and the battery management PLC 118 viarectifiers. An axis of the blade heads can be parallel to the rotoraxis, a profile of the blade heads can be constant along their length,and the tangential tail plate can be attached to an edge of the bladehead closer to the rotor axis. The tailplane and the blade tips can beconnected by stiffeners.

FIG. 5 shows the example VAWT 500. As shown in FIG. 5 , an arrangementof the blades can be associated with vertical axis wind turbines. Theblades may have a blade head 1, a tail plate 3, an end plate 2, andstiffeners 11 to stabilize them. The blade head 1 may have an open shellsurface of a semi-cylinder and an axis of the blade head 1 in a plane ofthe profile may be the same as an axis of the semi-cylinder. They can beequivalent if the blade head 1 has an elliptical or oval arc. The bladesmay have a drag coefficient of 2.3 on a push side and 0.38 on a returnside. The blade axis can be vertical and the blade profile can beconstant along a length of the blade. The VAWT 500 can be mounted on anyheight of mast 24. It can capture all types of winds and can be mountedon a lower mast than horizontal axis wind turbines. It can also make useof swirling winds. A generator 10 can be mounted on the mast 24 and canuse the torque from blades via a support structure 12. The VAWT 500 doesnot have to have gears, gearboxes, or other converters or transmissionunits, improving efficiency. The generator 10 may have a cover toprotect the VAWT 500 from the elements and weather. As an example,although there is no cover shown, the cover can be cylindrical ordome-shaped.

The generator 10 may have a number of magnets that can be divisible byfour per magnet pair, such as twelve or sixteen. A number of coils canbe divisible by three such as twelve or nine. In one example, there maybe a magnetic circuit that can be formed by four magnets located nearand opposite one another. The size of the magnets is desirable to besuch that the space between them provides a magnetic induction of atleast 0.2 Tesla, but preferably 0.4 Tesla. The coils can be placed at asame radius as the magnets and because they have a smaller number, theyhave a larger diameter, such as double the diameter of the magnets.

In one example, the VAWT 500 is extremely quiet and vibration free. TheVAWT 500 is able to capture wind from any direction and is able tooperate more efficiently at low wind speeds. Additionally, the generator10 of the VAWT 500 is able to maximize power from low wind speeds.

FIG. 6 shows an example of computing system 600, which can be forexample any computing device making up the generator PLC 102, the mainPLC 110, the charger PLC 112, and the battery management PLC 118, or anycomponent thereof in which the components of the system are incommunication with each other using connection 605. Connection 605 canbe a physical connection via a bus, or a direct connection intoprocessor 610, such as in a chipset architecture. Connection 605 canalso be a virtual connection, networked connection, or logicalconnection.

In some embodiments, computing system 600 is a distributed system inwhich the functions described in this disclosure can be distributedwithin a datacenter, multiple data centers, a peer network, etc. In someembodiments, one or more of the described system components representsmany such components each performing some or all of the function forwhich the component is described. In some embodiments, the componentscan be physical or virtual devices.

Example system 600 includes at least one processing unit (CPU orprocessor) 610 and connection 605 that couples various system componentsincluding system memory 615, such as read-only memory (ROM) 620 andrandom access memory (RAM) 625 to processor 610. Computing system 600can include a cache of high-speed memory 612 connected directly with, inclose proximity to, or integrated as part of processor 610.

Processor 610 can include any general purpose processor and a hardwareservice or software service, such as services 632, 634, and 636 storedin storage device 630, configured to control processor 610 as well as aspecial-purpose processor where software instructions are incorporatedinto the actual processor design. Processor 610 may essentially be acompletely self-contained computing system, containing multiple cores orprocessors, a bus, memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processormay be symmetric or asymmetric.

To enable user interaction, computing system 600 includes an inputdevice 645, which can represent any number of input mechanisms, such asa microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture orgraphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech, etc. Computingsystem 600 can also include output device 635, which can be one or moreof a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. Insome instances, multimodal systems can enable a user to provide multipletypes of input/output to communicate with computing system 600.Computing system 600 can include communications interface 640, which cangenerally govern and manage the user input and system output. There isno restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement, andtherefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improvedhardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.

Storage device 630 can be a non-volatile memory device and can be a harddisk or other types of computer readable media which can store data thatare accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cartridges,random access memories (RAMs), read-only memory (ROM), and/or somecombination of these devices.

The storage device 630 can include software services, servers, services,etc., that when the code that defines such software is executed by theprocessor 610, it causes the system to perform a function. In someembodiments, a hardware service that performs a particular function caninclude the software component stored in a computer-readable medium inconnection with the necessary hardware components, such as processor610, connection 605, output device 635, etc., to carry out the function.

For clarity of explanation, in some instances, the present technologymay be presented as including individual functional blocks includingfunctional blocks comprising devices, device components, steps orroutines in a method embodied in software, or combinations of hardwareand software.

Any of the steps, operations, functions, or processes described hereinmay be performed or implemented by a combination of hardware andsoftware services or services, alone or in combination with otherdevices. In some embodiments, a service can be software that resides inmemory of a client device and/or one or more servers of a contentmanagement system and perform one or more functions when a processorexecutes the software associated with the service. In some embodiments,a service is a program or a collection of programs that carry out aspecific function. In some embodiments, a service can be considered aserver. The memory can be a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage devices, mediums, andmemories can include a cable or wireless signal containing a bit streamand the like. However, when mentioned, non-transitory computer-readablestorage media expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals,electromagnetic waves, and signals per se.

Methods according to the above-described examples can be implementedusing computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwiseavailable from computer-readable media. Such instructions can comprise,for example, instructions and data which cause or otherwise configure ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network.The executable computer instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, orsource code. Examples of computer-readable media that may be used tostore instructions, information used, and/or information created duringmethods according to described examples include magnetic or opticaldisks, solid-state memory devices, flash memory, USB devices providedwith non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on.

Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can comprisehardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety ofform factors. Typical examples of such form factors include servers,laptops, smartphones, small form factor personal computers, personaldigital assistants, and so on. The functionality described herein alsocan be embodied in peripherals or add-in cards. Such functionality canalso be implemented on a circuit board among different chips ordifferent processes executing in a single device, by way of furtherexample.

The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computingresources for executing them, and other structures for supporting suchcomputing resources are means for providing the functions described inthese disclosures.

Illustrative examples of the disclosure include:

-   -   Aspect 1: A system comprising: a first charger connected to one        of an aircraft, a watercraft, and a vehicle having at least one        vehicle battery, a second charger connected to an on board        battery pack, and at least one programmable logic controller        (PLC) to: manage communication between the at least one vehicle        battery and the first charger to ensure that the at least one        vehicle battery reaches a preset state of charge (SOC), manage        communication between the on board battery pack and the second        charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the        preset SOC, and manage transfer of energy from the on board        battery pack to the at least one vehicle battery.    -   Aspect 2: The system of Aspect 1 wherein the at least one PLC        comprises a main PLC, a charger PLC, a battery management PLC,        and a generator PLC.    -   Aspect 3: The system of Aspects 1 and 2, wherein the charger PLC        manages the first charger and the second charger, the battery        management PLC manages the at least one vehicle battery and the        on board battery pack, the generator PLC manages a generator,        and the main PLC manages the charger PLC, the battery management        PLC, and the generator PLC.    -   Aspect 4: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 3, further        comprising a power source to provide energy to the first charger        and the second charger.    -   Aspect 5: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 4 further comprising        an output A/C connector and an A/C distribution panel.    -   Aspect 6: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 5, further        comprising a first charger A/C-D/C rectifier transformer and a        second charger A/C-D/C rectifier transformer.    -   Aspect 7: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 6, further        comprising one of a trailer and a container to house the system.    -   Aspect 8: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 7 wherein the        trailer is a mobile trailer.    -   Aspect 9: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 8, further        comprising a fuel system utilizing at least one of compressed        natural gas, renewable natural gas, and ethanol.    -   Aspect 10: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 9, wherein the        system provides power to an electrical panel.    -   Aspect 11: The system of any of Aspects 1 to 10, wherein the        system provides power to one of a building and a microgrid.    -   Aspect 12: A method, comprising: managing, by at least one        programmable logic controller (PLC), communication between a        vehicle, a watercraft, or an aircraft, a first charger, and a        second charger, managing, by the at least one PLC, at least one        power source to provide energy to the first charger and the        second charger, ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the        first charger provides the at least one battery associated with        the vehicle, the watercraft, or the aircraft with a preset state        of charge (SOC), ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the        second charger provides the on board battery pack with the        preset SOC, and initiating a connection, by the at least one PLC        to allow transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to        the at least one battery associated with the vehicle, the        watercraft, or aircraft.    -   Aspect 13: The method of Aspect 12, wherein the at least one PLC        comprises a main PLC, a charger PLC, a battery management PLC,        and a generator PLC.    -   Aspect 14: The method of Aspects 12 and 13, wherein the charger        PLC manages the first charger and the second charger, the        battery management PLC manages the at least one vehicle battery        and the on board battery pack, the generator PLC manages a        generator, and the main PLC manages the charger PLC, the battery        management PLC, and the generator PLC.    -   Aspect 15: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 14, further        comprising providing energy to the first charger and the second        charger using a power source.    -   Aspect 16: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 15, further        comprising providing the transfer of energy to another        electrical panel using an output A/C connector and an A/C        distribution panel.    -   Aspect 17: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 16, wherein the        first charger comprises a first charger A/C-D/C rectifier        transformer and the second charger comprises a second charger        A/C-D/C rectifier transformer.    -   Aspect 18: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 17, further        comprising housing the at least one PLC, the first charger, and        the second charger in one of a trailer and a container.    -   Aspect 19: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 18, wherein the        trailer is a mobile trailer.    -   Aspect 20: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 19, further        comprising utilizing a fuel system comprising at least one of        compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, and ethanol.    -   Aspect 21: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 20, further        comprising providing power to an electrical panel.    -   Aspect 22: The method of any of Aspects 12 to 21, further        comprising providing power to one of a building and a microgrid.    -   Aspect 23: A system comprising: a vertical axis wind turbine        (VAWT), a first charger connected to another device external        from the system having at least one battery, a second charger        connected to an on board battery pack, and at least one        programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to: manage        communication between the VAWT, the at least one battery, and        the first charger to ensure that the at least one battery        reaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of        charge, manage communication between the on board battery pack        and the second charger to ensure that the on board battery pack        reaches the preset SOC and trigger the second charger to        discontinue the charging session, manage transfer of energy from        the on board battery pack to the at least one battery, and stop        a flow of electricity to the first charger and the second        charger, cease output of power when output is below 75% of        generator output, and shut down the system.    -   Aspect 24: The system of Aspect 23, wherein the VAWT comprises        at least six blade heads.    -   Aspect 25: The system of Aspect 23 and 24, wherein each end of        each blade head has end plates that are perpendicular to an axis        of the blade head.    -   Aspect 26: The system of Aspects 23 to 25, wherein a tangential        tail plane is attached to an edge of each blade head closer to a        rotor axis.    -   Aspect 27: The system of Aspects 23 to 26, wherein each tail        plane is connected to a blade tip using stiffeners.    -   Aspect 28: The system of Aspects 23 to 27, wherein the VAWT        comprises a generator having a plurality of pairs of magnets,        each pair of magnets having a non-ferrous coil placed between.    -   Aspect 29: The system of Aspects 23 to 28, wherein the ratio of        number of pairs of magnets to a number of coils is 4:3.    -   Aspect 30: The system of Aspects 23 to 29, wherein a diameter of        a coil is at least twice a diameter of a magnet.    -   Aspect 31: The system of Aspects 23 to 30, wherein the system is        housed in one of a trailer and a container to be transported via        one of a vehicle, rail, boat, and aircraft.    -   Aspect 32: The system of Aspects 23 to 31, wherein the system is        housed in a trailer comprising a mobile trailer to be pulled by        a vehicle comprising one of a pickup truck and a semi-tractor        truck.    -   Aspect 33: The system of Aspects 23 to 32, wherein the at least        one PLC is further configured to manage transfer of energy from        the on board battery pack to one of a building and a microgrid.    -   Aspect 34: The system of Aspects 23 to 33, wherein the at least        one PLC is further configured to adjust a flow of coolant to the        at least one battery to maximize a speed of charge.    -   Aspect 35: The system of Aspects 23 to 34, wherein the at least        one PLC is further configured to adjust a flow of coolant to the        on board battery pack to maximize the speed of charge.    -   Aspect 36: A method, comprising: managing, by at least one        programmable logic controller (PLC), communication between an        external device, a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first        charger, and a second charger, the external device external from        the first charger and the second charger, managing, by the at        least one PLC, at least one power source comprising the VAWT to        provide energy to the first charger and the second charger,        ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the first charger        provides the at least one battery associated with the external        device with a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state        of charge, ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the second        charger provides the on board battery pack with the preset SOC,        and triggering the second charger to discontinue the charging        session, initiating a connection, by the at least one PLC, to        allow transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the        at least one battery associated with the external device, and        stopping a flow of electricity to the first charger and the        second charger, ceasing output of power when output is below 75%        of generator output, and shutting down the system.    -   Aspect 37: The method of Aspect 36, further comprising adjusting        a flow of coolant to the at least one battery associated with        the external device to maximize a speed of charge, adjusting a        flow of coolant to the on board battery pack to maximize the        speed of charge, and managing transfer of energy from the on        board battery pack to one of a building and a microgrid.    -   Aspect 38: A portable system comprising a container to house the        system comprising a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first        charger connected to another device external from the system        having at least one battery, a second charger connected to an on        board battery pack, and at least one programmable logic        controller (PLC) configured to: manage communication between the        VAWT, the at least one battery, and the first charger to ensure        that the at least one battery reaches a preset state of charge        (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge, manage communication        between the on board battery pack and the second charger to        ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC and        trigger the second charger to discontinue the charging session,        manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the        at least one battery, and stop a flow of electricity to the        first charger and the second charger, cease output of power when        output is below 75% of generator output, and shut down the        system.    -   Aspect 39: The portable system of Aspect 38, wherein the VAWT        comprises at least six blade heads.    -   Aspect 40: The portable system of Aspects 38 and 39, wherein        each end of each blade head has end plates that are        perpendicular to an axis of the blade head.    -   Aspect 41: The portable system of Aspects 38 to 40, wherein a        tangential tail plane is attached to an edge of each blade head        closer to a rotor axis.    -   Aspect 42: The portable system of Aspects 38 to 41, wherein each        tail plane is connected to a blade tip using stiffeners.    -   Aspect 43: The portable system of Aspects 38 to 42, wherein the        VAWT comprises a generator having a plurality of pairs of        magnets, each pair of magnets having a non-ferrous coil placed        between.    -   Aspect 44: The portable system of Aspects 38 to 43, wherein the        ratio of number of pairs of magnets to a number of coils is 4:3.    -   Aspect 45: The portable system of Aspects 38 to 44, wherein a        diameter of a coil is at least twice a diameter of a magnet.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a vertical axis wind turbine(VAWT); a first charger connected to another device external from thesystem having at least one battery; a second charger connected to an onboard battery pack; and at least one programmable logic controller (PLC)configured to: manage communication between the VAWT, the at least onebattery, and the first charger to ensure that the at least one batteryreaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge;manage communication between the on board battery pack and the secondcharger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOCand trigger the second charger to discontinue the charging session;manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at leastone battery; and stop a flow of electricity to the first charger and thesecond charger, cease output of power when output is below 75% ofgenerator output, and shut down the system.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the VAWT comprises at least six blade heads.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein each end of each blade head has end plates that areperpendicular to an axis of the blade head.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein a tangential tail plane is attached to an edge of each bladehead closer to a rotor axis.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein each tailplane is connected to a blade tip using stiffeners.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the VAWT comprises a generator having a plurality ofpairs of magnets, each pair of magnets having a non-ferrous coil placedbetween.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ratio of number of pairsof magnets to a number of coils is 4:3.
 8. The system of claim 6,wherein a diameter of a coil is at least twice a diameter of a magnet.9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is housed in one of atrailer and a container to be transported via one of a vehicle, rail,boat, and aircraft.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system ishoused in a trailer comprising a mobile trailer to be pulled by avehicle comprising one of a pickup truck and a semi-tractor truck. 11.The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one PLC is furtherconfigured to manage transfer of energy from the on board battery packto one of a building and a microgrid.
 12. The system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one PLC is further configured to adjust a flow of coolantto the at least one battery to maximize a speed of charge.
 13. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one PLC is further configured toadjust a flow of coolant to the on board battery pack to maximize thespeed of charge.
 14. A method, comprising: managing, by at least oneprogrammable logic controller (PLC), communication between an externaldevice, a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first charger, and asecond charger, the external device external from the first charger andthe second charger; managing, by the at least one PLC, at least onepower source comprising the VAWT to provide energy to the first chargerand the second charger; ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that thefirst charger provides the at least one battery associated with theexternal device with a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% stateof charge; ensuring, by the at least one PLC, that the second chargerprovides the on board battery pack with the preset SOC, and triggeringthe second charger to discontinue the charging session; initiating aconnection, by the at least one PLC, to allow transfer of energy fromthe on board battery pack to the at least one battery associated withthe external device; and stopping a flow of electricity to the firstcharger and the second charger, ceasing output of power when output isbelow 75% of generator output, and shutting down the system.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a flow of coolant tothe at least one battery associated with the external device to maximizea speed of charge, adjusting a flow of coolant to the on board batterypack to maximize the speed of charge, and managing transfer of energyfrom the on board battery pack to one of a building and a microgrid. 16.A portable system comprising a container to house the system comprising:a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT); a first charger connected toanother device external from the system having at least one battery; asecond charger connected to an on board battery pack; and at least oneprogrammable logic controller (PLC) configured to: manage communicationbetween the VAWT, the at least one battery, and the first charger toensure that the at least one battery reaches a preset state of charge(SOC) comprising 90% state of charge; manage communication between theon board battery pack and the second charger to ensure that the on boardbattery pack reaches the preset SOC and trigger the second charger todiscontinue the charging session; manage transfer of energy from the onboard battery pack to the at least one battery; and stop a flow ofelectricity to the first charger and the second charger, cease output ofpower when output is below 75% of generator output, and shut down thesystem.
 17. The portable system of claim 16, wherein the VAWT comprisesat least six blade heads.
 18. The portable system of claim 17, whereineach end of each blade head has end plates that are perpendicular to anaxis of the blade head.
 19. The portable system of claim 18, wherein atangential tail plane is attached to an edge of each blade head closerto a rotor axis.
 20. The portable system of claim 19, wherein each tailplane is connected to a blade tip using stiffeners.
 21. The portablesystem of claim 16, wherein the VAWT comprises a generator having aplurality of pairs of magnets, each pair of magnets having a non-ferrouscoil placed between.
 22. The portable system of claim 21, wherein theratio of number of pairs of magnets to a number of coils is 4:3.
 23. Theportable system of claim 21, wherein a diameter of a coil is at leasttwice a diameter of a magnet.